Box or case.



No. 718,616. PATENTED JAN.. 20, 1903.

B. L. GALE. l

BOX OR CASE. APPLmATIoN FILED APB. 29, 1902.

l0 MODEL.

y 'u I/vz/ENTO/Qv I I .minimumulnnmn UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

BURTON L. GALE, OF IVARREN, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOX OR CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,616, dated January 20, 1903.

Application led April 29,1902. Serial No. 105.193. (No model To all whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, BURTON L. GALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Warren, in the county of Warren and State of Pen nsyl- Vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes or Cases; and I do hereby declare the following` to be a full, clear, and exact description of the in vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in boxes or cases, and more particularly to that class of boxes adapted to be used as receptacles for burial-caskets and for burial-caskets themselves. K

The object of my invention is to producea construction which shall be waterproof and air-tight, and which when placed in the earth or under ground will withstand for a long time the ravages of decay, and which shall at the same time be light and inexpensive to manufacture. These objects I accomplish by constructing the box of a series of layers of veneers, the grains of which extend in diiferent direetions,the said veneers being fastened together by means of a waterproof cementing material, such as waterproof cement or glue.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have illustrated it in the accompanying drawings and described it in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of my improved box or case. Fig; 2 is a sectional side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional end view of the same. Figs. 1I, 5, 6, and '7 are detail views.

Similar letters refer to identical parts throughout.

A represents one of the sides of my improved box, which is 'constructed of a number of layers of veneers a b c, secured together in any desired manner, but preferably by a waterproof glue. In the construction shown I use three layers'of veneer, the middle layer h being somewhat thicker than the other two; but I do not wish to limit myself to any number or thickness of veneers.

The sides of the box are preferably joined together at the extremities by means of solid posts grooved and glued with waterproof glue and also strengthened by means of frames. These frames consist of a top molding C and bottom molding C and posts or corner-pieces D. The bottom molding O is rigidly secured to the sides at their lower portions and extend below the same, the said downwardly-extended portion of the molding being provided with grooves c and the upper wall of said groove being flush with the lower edges of the sides of the box.

The posts or corner-pieces D are preferably out away at their extremities, so as to receive the slanted ends of the moldings in such a manner that the cut-away portions of the corner-pieces and the end of the molding form a miter-joint. The corner-pieces are also provided with grooves adapted to receive the ends of the sides.

The top molding C is cut away to receive the upper portion of the side pieces and lap over, the upper edge of said side pieces coming ush with the inner sides of the box.

The bottom of the box is constructed of a series of layers of veneer, as already described, and is adapted to be inserted into the groove c of the lower molding when three sides of the box are up. The fourth side is then put in place after the bottom of the box is inserted.

The bottom of the box Eis provided with supporting-strips e, extending on the under side of the same at such a distance from the outer edges of the bottom that when the latter is inserted in its place the outer edges of the supporting-strips will come in contact with the portion of the molding c below the bottom grooves. These supporting-strips are mitered together at the corners and form a close joint with the said depending portions of the molding. The use of said supportingstrips enables me to make a very tight and secure joint for the bottom of my box and supports the portion of the moldings below the bottom groove. The box when resting upon a oor rests upon `the said supportingstrips. This construction protects the joint at the bottom of the box or the connections between the sides and bottom of the box, rendering the same far more durable. The bottom of the box is in cases where a waterproof receptacle is desired secured to the moldings and the lower edges of the sides by a waterproof cement or glue, which also secures the supporting-strips to the moldings. In any case the supporting-strips are secured IOO to the bottom and also to the moldings below the bottom.

The framework, sides, and bottom of the box are fastened together by means of nails, screws, glue, or in any other desired manner. The top of the box is constructed of a series of layers of veneers, as described, and is preferably rounded, as shown, and this I accom plish by pressing the layers of veneers into the desired shape when being glued in a form of the required shape.

The top is adapted to be removably secured to the top molding and corner-pieces. When finally secured in place-as, for example, when it is desired to place a casket in the box preparatory to depositing the box and contents in the earth or in a vault or for shippingthe box may be hermetically sealed by fastening the top to the upper molding and corner-pieces by means of gaskets, screws, nails, or other attachments, or a waterproof cement or glue.

It is obvious that the box as described is particularly adapted for shipping, as it is very light, and the rounded or oval form of the top prevents in a large measure the piling of other boxes or heavy articles upon it.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A box, ease or casket comprising among its elements, the four sides each composed of a series of veneers, moldings secured to the side pieces and extending below the same, said downwardly-depending portions being provided with grooves as described, and a bottom also composed of veneers engaging said grooves and the lower edges of the side pieces.

2. A box, case or casket comprising among its elements, four posts provided with grooves to receive the sides of the box and having mitered cut-away portions, as described, the sides engaging the grooves in said posts, moldings secured to the top and bottom of the sides and fitting said mitered cut-away portions of the posts, substantially as described.

3. A box, case or casket comprising among its members, sides, moldings, top and bottom, corner-posts, a bottom engaging grooves in the lower molding and the supporting-strips engaging the bottom and extending below the lower molding, substantially as described.

4. A joint for boxes, cases or caskets comprising the grooved moldings iitted to said sides, the bottom engaging said groove and the lower edges of said sides, and the supporting strips secured to said bottom and molding beneath the bottom, substantially as described.

5. In a box, case or casket, the combination of the four sides constructed of a series of layers of veneers, secured together, moldings secured to the said side pieces near the lower edges and extending below the same, said downwardly-extending portions being provided with grooves adapted to receive the bottom of the box, corner-pieces provided with grooves and cut-away portions to receive the ends of the side pieces and of th 1 moldings and form lniter-joints therewith, a bottom and top also constructed ofaseries of veneers, substantially as described.

6. A box, case or casket, the sides, top and bottom of which are made of layers of veneers, the top of said box being rounded at a portion of its surface, substantially as described.

7. A box, case or casket, the sides, top and bottom of which are constructed of layers of veneers, the top being rounded outwardly at a portion of its surface intermediate its edges, substantially as described.

8. In a box, case or casket, the combination of the four sides constructed of a series of layers of veneers secured together, top and bottom moldings adapted to be secured to the sides, the bottom molding extending below the sides and being provided with grooves to receive the bottom of the box, and the top molding being cut away so as to overlap the upperedges of the sides,cornerpieces grooved and cnt away to receive the ends of the sides and the ends of the moldings, a top and bottom each constructed of a series of layers of veneers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

BURTON L. GALE.

IVitnesses:

MARY E. TRIMBLE, DANIEL ADAMS. 

